Talishan - I somehow missed when you posted this. I'm going to ask the vet about that tomorrow. The metacam just isn't doing the job.

Pinni had perked up until yesterday. She dropped back out of the 800g back into the 750s. She'd been dry up until the weekend as well - she's incontinent again. We gave her a rump dunk this evening because she smelled so much, but I HATE handling her, because I think jostling her around just makes her hurt.

She's uncomfortable often. But she eats all of her favorite food with gusto, and I see her with her nose in the pellet dish. I work at home, and it breaks my heart when I hear her cry so often. Sigh.

Thanks for the confirmation. Vet has upped the metacam, and I am doing both that and the tramadol. She's really nervous about putting Pinni on pred - I'm to give another update on Thursday, and go from there.

The rule of thumb is that NSAID's and SAID's cannot be mixed. That is, do NOT mix a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Narcotics can be put in the mix either way, although I will assume that a vet would not want to double up on narcotics. I don't know that (in an extreme case) it could not be done, though.

The trick is to know which is which. Pred is a steroid so it is obviously a SAID.

Basically those can't (or shouldn't -- in a life or death case I would, actually) be combined with steroids because the effect of the two on the GI (potential ulceration) is more-than-the-sum-of-the-parts.

We had one sow who did not recover from spay surgery (that I am firmly convinced was botched, but that's another story). She had been given Metacam and a narcotic. I thought about adding pred into the mix, primarily for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. I didn't do so. I don't know that she would have made it if I had done so, but that's the kind of case (and really, the only kind of case) I'd consider making the exception to the rule.

So sorry about Pinni, Pooksied. My vet was hesitant to give pred until it was a last resort, and I wish we could have tried sooner because of what others reported about its helping. Also, would lasix help with the fluid around her organs? Maybe ask vet about that? I hope The Schnoz has many more good moments than bad... and I know this year's Xmas photo shoot will be special for you, Pinni, and Cannoli. Hugs!

I spent most of the morning on the couch sitting with Pinni. She started to become wobbly last night, and this morning, she had trouble finding the lettuce, and sat over it but wouldn't eat it. So we knew the end was very near. We lost her around 1pm. She went peacefully, on her own, which I am so very grateful.

I will miss my nosy pig. December is an unlucky month for me and guinea pigs. I think she's the fifth one I've lost in December.